01 Aug 2012

Braley Works to Expand Support for Small Businesses

By Jeff Giertz

Main Street Stabilization Act will expand small business support centers 

Washington, D.C. - Rep. Bruce Braley (IA-01) today introduced the Main Street Stabilization Act which would provide Iowa small business owners and entrepreneurs with educational tools and support to help their business thrive.

The bill would expand services offered at Iowa's fifteen Small Business Development Centers (SBDC). SBDCs provide customized and confidential business advice to any business, or potential business, in Iowa with 500 employees or less.  SBDCs provide workshops and one-on-one consulting to educate and provide resources for small business entrepreneurs.

"Starting a small business is a challenging task that can be confusing and expensive," said Braley. "My bill will provide additional resources and educational tools for small business owners, and those hoping to start a small business. These additional resources will educate Iowa entrepreneurs, strengthen the Iowa economy, and create jobs in Iowa."

The Main Street Stabilization Act would create a grant program that would expand services and support available at SBDCs. This would include additional consulting and education services for small businesses, extra support for regional centers in high demand which would shorten the response time for those requesting SBDC services, and new online tools and resources for Iowa entrepreneurs.

"Providing more responsive support and resources to small businesses getting off the ground will help Iowa entrepreneurs create jobs and grow their businesses," Braley added.

Text of the Main Street Stabilization Act can be downloaded at the following link: http://go.usa.gov/GgE

A list of SBDC locations in Iowa follow:

·         Iowa State University SBDC, Ames

·         Southeastern SBDC, Burlington

·         Iowa Western SBDC, Council Bluffs

·         South Central Iowa SBDC, Creston

·         Eastern Iowa SBDC, Davenport

·         Northeast Iowa SBDC, Dubuque

·         North Central Iowa SBDC, Fort Dodge

·         University of Iowa SBDC, Iowa City

·         Kirkwood SBDC, Marion

·         North Iowa Area SBDC, Mason City

·         Indian Hills SBDC, Ottumwa

·         Northwest Iowa SBDC, Spencer

·         Western Iowa Tech SBDC, Sioux City

·         University of Northern Iowa SBDC, Waterloo

·         Mid Iowa SBDC, West Des Moines

 

# # #
01 Aug 2012

Report on Operation Fast and Furious

By Grassley Press

Congressional Investigators Release First Part of Final Joint Report on Operation Fast and Furious

Report Focuses on Role of ATF and Arizona U.S. Attorney's Office

WASHINGTON, DC -House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Darrell Issa and Senate Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Senator Chuck Grassley today released the first part of the final report on the joint congressional investigation of conduct in Operation Fast and Furious.  The report presents evidence detailing numerous errors and decisions by ATF officials and the Arizona U.S. Attorney's Office that led to serious problems - including inter-agency communication failures between ATF, DEA, and FBI.  The failed operation might have contributed to the deaths of U.S. Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry and an unknown number of Mexican citizens.  It also created an ongoing public safety hazard on both sides of the border.  The failures happened because of conscious decisions not to interdict weapons and not to stop suspects in the hope that they would lead to cartel connections and a larger case.

"ATF and the Arizona U.S. Attorney's Office failed to consider and protect the safety of Americans, Mexicans, and fellow law enforcement personnel throughout Operation Fast and Furious," said Chairman Issa.  "Testimony and a persistent reluctance to fully cooperate make clear that many officials at ATF and the Department of Justice would have preferred to quietly sweep this matter under the rug.  Though they are among the most vocal objectors to oversight by Congress, this investigation has also shown that both agencies are among those most in need of additional scrutiny and attention from Congress."

"The ATF wasted time, money and resources on wiretaps and put agents in harm's way trying to learn about the links that other agencies had already made," Grassley said.  "It's a classic case of government agencies' failure to connect the dots.  The ATF leadership claims it didn't get the full picture from the FBI until after the case was over.  We know the DEA was actively giving information to the ATF, but the ATF dropped the ball.  Whistleblowers put the spotlight on Operation Fast and Furious.  The ATF clearly needs to clean up its act, and the Department of Justice needs to make certain this kind of program is never allowed to happen again.  This report provides a road map of what went wrong."

This new report, "Fast and Furious: The Anatomy of a Failed Operation, Part I of III," is based on transcribed interviews with 24 individuals, some covering multiple days; informal interviews with more than 50 individuals; and the review of more than 10,000 pages of documents.  While the Justice Department has withheld tens of thousands of pages of documents and denied access to numerous witnesses, the investigation did find sufficient evidence to draw conclusions concerning the origins of Operation Fast and Furious, the detrimental effect of inter-agency miscommunications and turf issues, flawed strategies, delays, and an overall failure to effectively supervise subordinate offices.

The complete report consists of 2,359 pages, including 211 pages of text with 692 footnotes, 266 exhibits, and three appendices.

Below are excerpts from the report's conclusion (starting on p. 210):

"From the outset, the case was marred by missteps, poor judgments, and an inherently reckless strategy. In the summer of 2009, the Deputy Attorney General at the Department of Justice in Washington, D.C. promulgated a 'Strategy for Combating the Mexican Cartels.' The new aim was to zero in on the firearms trafficking networks. Agents were advised that 'merely seizing firearms' purchased illegally by straw buyers should take a back seat to gathering information in hopes of dismantling entire firearms trafficking networks. To effectuate the new plan, ATF agents in Phoenix convinced local gun dealers to cooperate by supplying ATF with real-time information on the straw purchases, even though ATF knew the buyers were illegally obtaining firearms destined for the Mexican drug cartels. The gun dealers were reassured that ATF was closely monitoring the transactions, and interdicting the weapons. That was false."

***

"Shortly after the case began, in December 2009, DEA supplied ATF with extensive information on what would become ATF's prime target. At that point, ATF should have shut Fast and Furious down, but it failed to recognize the significance of the information the DEA had shared. Instead, ATF continued with its plan to identify all the players in the trafficking network rather than disrupt or deter them through confrontation and arrest. So, hundreds of guns flowed to criminals while two of the trafficking network's customers, who were its connection to the Mexican drug cartels, were already known to U.S. law enforcement. Both the FBI and DEA had key information on the network's connection drug cartels in Mexico by the time ATF's wiretaps were approved."

***

"Though Attorney General Holder testified that the case was 'fundamentally flawed' and President Obama has stated that mistakes may have been made, all responsible ATF officials still work either at the ATF or within the Department of Justice. The two men most closely identified with the failed strategy of the case and who bear the brunt of responsibility for supervising the operation on a day-to-day basis, William Newell and David Voth, have both kept their jobs at ATF."

***

"This report is not intended to imply in any way that the mistakes and responsibility for Operation Fast and Furious are limited to ATF and other federal officials who were based in Arizona. While mistakes by figures in Arizona were immense, the joint Congressional investigation into Operation Fast and Furious will issue a second report detailing the mistakes and culpability of Department of Justice officials based in Washington, D.C."

***

"Operation Fast and Furious was the largest firearms trafficking case involving the U.S.-Mexico border in the history of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. The case began in the fall of 2009 in ATF's Phoenix Field Division under the leadership of Special Agent in Charge William Newell, an agent with a history of sanctioning the dangerous investigative technique known as gunwalking. Newell had been reprimanded before by ATF management for pushing the envelope with discredited tactics. But Newell had an audacious goal. He intended to dismantle the U.S.-based gun trafficking network that supplied the formidable Mexican Sinaloa Cartel. When the Obama administration resurrected an earlier case in which his division used reckless gunwalking tactics, Newell saw his opportunity."

***

Click here for a copy of the report, "Fast and Furious: The Anatomy of a Failed Operation, Part I of III" and the 2,148 page appendices.

###
01 Aug 2012

Hardee's brings the Bacon Bacon with new biscuit

By Angie Taylor
Hardee's has introduced a sizzling new addition to its lineup of Made from Scratch Biscuits that will satisfy any bacon lover's morning craving.

A breakfast sandwich with twice the goodness, the Bacon Bacon Biscuit features crispy bacon strips and a slice of Canadian bacon, along with American cheese and egg all served on a freshly baked, buttermilk biscuit.

The Bacon Bacon Biscuit starts at $2.29 and is also available as a combo with Hash Rounds and coffee, orange juice or a soft drink for $3.99. More info is available here: http://bit.ly/LV6d6K.
01 Aug 2012

U.S. Air Force Cycling Team in RAGBRAI

By Carlos Cruz

Photo by Senior Master Sgt. Mike BattienSmall RSS IconSubscriptions Icon Subscribe To This Journalist

Air Force Cycling Team riders on RAGBRAI 2012

An unidentified member of the USAF Cycling Team makes a water stop in Shellsburg, Iowa, on day five of RAGBRAI 2012. The AF Cycling Team is made up with active duty, National Guard, Reserve and retired members. The 88-member team rode RAGBRAI 2012 and helped riders who were disabled and stopped along the way. RAGBRAI is The Register's Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa; the largest and longest organized bicycle ride in the world. This year's week-long ride covered 471 miles-starting in Sioux City and ending in Clinton, Iowa. The AF Cycling team meets riders every day and spreads a positive message to each person they assist along the way.


Read more: http://www.dvidshub.net/image/635699/air-force-cycling-team-riders-ragbrai-2012#.UBk3zqBQQsZ#ixzz22IrzOH1Q
01 Aug 2012

Space Talk at the Figge Art Museum

By Steve Mohr

Art Talk Highlights the CHallenges of Reaching Space

Davenport, IOWA (July 2012) The Figge Art Museum presents the art talk "Physics 101: The Challenges of Reaching Space" at 7 pm Thursday, August 2.  Brett McCarty will lead the talk and focus on the obstacles that NASA has had to overcome in their quest to explore outer space. The talk is offered in conjunction with the special exhibition NASA | ART: 50 Years of Exploration and is free with Figge membership or paid admission.

Mr. McCarty's talk will look at some of the scientific and economic challenges that have faced the NASA program, including the high cost of sending material to space, the challenges of gravity, the biological effects of zero-gravity, sustaining life in orbit and the hazards of radiation and space debris. The talk will also focus the technologies and studies that assisted in NASA's missions to space.

Participants can also expect to have Mr. McCarty dispel some common misconceptions during the talk. "Despite the popular belief, the gravity in space is not actually 'zero gravity.' Instead, it is more accurately described as micro-gravity and orbiting the earth is actually like skydiving only you never hit the earth," explained Mr. McCarty

Brett McCarty is an adjunct physics instructor, specializing in condensed matter physics, at St. Ambrose University. He received his master's in science from Iowa State University.

About NASA | ART: 50 Years of Exploration 

In celebration of its 50th anniversary in 2008, NASA collaborated with the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service and the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum on the exhibition NASA | ART: 50 Years of Exploration. Drawn from the collections of NASA and the National Air and Space Museum, the exhibition features 72 works of art commissioned by the NASA Art Program. Established soon after the inception of the U.S. space program in 1958, NASA's Art Program provides a unique way to communicate the accomplishments, setbacks, and sheer excitement of space exploration to the public. The selected works span the entire history of NASA and include paintings, drawings, photographs, sculptures, and other media by such artists as Annie Leibovitz, Nam June Paik, Robert Rauschenberg, Norman Rockwell, Andy Warhol, William Wegman and Jamie Wyeth.

NASA | ART at the Figge Art Museum is generously sponsored by the ALCOA Foundation, John Deere, Genesis Health Systems and Cobham, plc.

NASA | ART was organized by the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration in cooperation with the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum. The Smithsonian Community Grant program, funded by MetLife Foundation, is a proud sponsor of "NASA | ART" public programs.

-end-
31 Jul 2012

U.S. Soybean Farmers Celebrate Partnership with China

By United Soybean Board
Checkoff helps mark 30th anniversary of growing trade with biggest export partner

ST. LOUIS (July 31, 2012) - China imported 895 million bushels of whole U.S. soybeans last year -more than half of all U.S. soybeans exported. In honor of this important relationship, a delegation of U.S. soybean farmers representing the United Soybean Board (USB), the American Soybean Association (ASA) and the U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC) plan to recognize the past 30 years of developing this partnership.

"U.S. soybean farmers go beyond providing our Chinese customers with a reliable supply of high-quality soybeans," says Vanessa Kummer, USB chair and a soybean farmer from Colfax, N.D. "We have a partnership devoted to helping China reach its food-security and -safety goals in the 21st century. The soy checkoff, and my fellow soybean farmers representing ASA and USSEC, honor the anniversary of this valued and important partnership."

U.S. soybean farmers started laying the foundation for today's strong trade relations with China in 1982. Ever since, the United States has been a committed partner with China in meeting its long-term goal of sustainable food security.

"The creation of the partnership mutually benefits both Chinese soy customers and U.S. soybean farmers," says ASA President Steve Wellman, a soybean farmer from Syracuse, Neb. "Since ASA opened its Beijing international marketing development office in 1982, China has quickly risen to become the largest customer of U.S. soy - importing more than $11 billion today. We look forward to continuing our partnership."

U.S. soybean farmers' activities to help expand Chinese agriculture and agribusiness have played a part in China's increasing production of meat, poultry and fish products. The effort to modernize and develop China's animal-agriculture industry contributes to its food security and supports the animal-production goals outlined in China's 12th Five-Year Plan.

"As we celebrate this important milestone, we look forward to further growth of this partnership and providing China with an exceptional product," says Roy Bardole, USSEC chairman and soybean farmer from Rippey, Iowa. "We remain committed to providing China, and our other customers around the world, the highest-quality soybeans."

A Chinese delegation highlighted the promising future for this relationship earlier this year by committing to purchase more than $6 billion worth of U.S. soybeans during signing ceremonies in Des Moines, Iowa, and Los Angeles. Altogether, these commitments total more than 13.4 million metric tons, or 492.3 million bushels of U.S. soy, and set a new record for U.S. soybean purchase commitments made in one signing trip.

In conjunction with the formal recognition of the 30-year partnership between the U.S. soybean sector and China, the U.S. group plans to tour a soy crushing plant in northern China, visit Jianguo Poultry Company and participate in a round-table discussion with Chinese soy leaders.

The 69 farmer-directors of USB oversee the investments of the soy checkoff to maximize profit opportunities for all U.S. soybean farmers. These volunteers invest and leverage checkoff funds to increase the value of U.S. soy meal and oil, to ensure U.S. soybean farmers and their customers have the freedom and infrastructure to operate, and to meet the needs of U.S. soy's customers. As stipulated in the federal Soybean Promotion, Research and Consumer Information Act, the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service has oversight responsibilities for USB and the soy checkoff.

For more information on the United Soybean Board, visit www.unitedsoybean.org
Visit us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/UnitedSoybeanBoard
Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/unitedsoy
View our YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/user/UnitedSoybeanBoard

###

31 Jul 2012

UNIV. OF DUBUQUE SPRING GRADS LIST

By TheLink Delivery Service

Dubuque, Iowa -- Five-hundred-twelve undergraduate, graduate, and seminary students received their degrees during this year's University of Dubuque Commencement Ceremonies, held on Saturday, May 12, 2012.  Among those graduating were Keaton Frye of Davenport and Ryan Warner of Rock Island.

The University of Dubuque conferred degrees upon 390 undergraduate and 78 graduate students during its 160th College Commencement Ceremony on Saturday, May 12, beginning at 1:00 p.m. at the Grand River Center in the Port of Dubuque. Dr. Calvin Coquillette, assistant professor of history, emeritus, delivered the Commencement Address.

The University's Seminary conferred degrees upon 44 students - 39 master of divinity, 1 master of arts in religion, 2 master of missional Christianity, 2 doctor of ministry, and 1 certificate in theological studies - during the Seminary Commencement Ceremony on Saturday, May 12 at 9:30 a.m. at Westminster Presbyterian Church. Barbara G. Wheeler, director of Auburn Theological Seminary's Center for the Study of Theological Education, delivered the Seminary's Commencement Address.

The University of Dubuque, founded in 1852, is a private, coeducational, professional University with a focus in the liberal arts.

31 Jul 2012

UNIV NORTHERN COLORADO HONORS LIST

By TheLink Delivery Service
Greeley, Colo. -- Kathleen McNamara, Bettendorf, has been named to the Dean's List of Distinction (Dean's List) in recognition of her outstanding scholarship during the 2011-12 academic year at the University of Northern Colorado.
31 Jul 2012

USDA Announces Projects to Create Jobs and Strengthen Economic Development Across Rural Iowa

By USDA Communications

CLARINDA, Iowa - July 31, 2012 - Agriculture Deputy Under Secretary for Rural Development Doug O'Brien today announced the selection of projects in Iowa for loans and grants that will support job creation efforts, business development and strengthen economic growth in rural communities across the state.

"We are pleased to be helping with efforts around the state that will strengthen the economy, create jobs, support business growth and expand opportunity for rural Iowans," O'Brien said. "The Obama Administration is committed to ensuring that rural communities are economically vibrant and successful in their business-development and job-creation efforts."

Funding is being provided through USDA's Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant program (REDLG), which provides zero-interest loans to local utilities which they, in turn, pass through to local businesses (ultimate recipients) for projects that will create and retain employment in rural areas.

With today's announcement, USDA is investing nearly $2.5 million to spur economic growth. The following is a list of rural utilities in Iowa that will receive funding, which is contingent upon the recipient meeting the terms of the loan or grant agreement.

  • Eastern Iowa Light & Power Cooperative - $298,000 loan. Funding will be used to purchase land that a local community development corporation will develop as an industrial park.
  • Orange City Municipal Electric Utility -- $1,000,000 loan. Funds will be used to provide loans to rural utilities program borrowers to provide economic development. This project will provide a loan to Tec Industries, LLC dba Quatro Composites to be used for the purchase of machinery and equipment. This project is expected to create 144 new jobs.
  • Rock Rapids Municipal Utilities -- $300,000 grant. Funds will be used to provide grants to rural utilities program borrowers to provide economic development. This project provides support to Rock Rapids Municipal Utilities who will add $60,000 match to create a $360,000 revolving loan fund. The revolving loan fund will make a loan to Rock Rapids Area Development Foundation which will construct a new building in Rock Rapids. This project is expected to create up to 20 jobs.
  • Harrison County Rural Electric Cooperative - $344,000 loan. Funding will be used to construct a 10,000-square-foot central warehouse facility for Grato Holdings, Inc. The new warehouse will consolidate the company's operations.
  • Central Iowa Power Cooperative - $300,000 grant. Funds will be used to purchase land that a local community development corporation will develop as an industrial park.

O'Brien made the announcement during a two-day tour in Iowa. The trip began with a groundbreaking ceremony at Manning Regional Healthcare Center in Manning, Iowa. USDA Rural Development is providing a $21 million loan to assist with construction of the hospital. Following the ceremony, O'Brien toured the new Clarinda Regional Health Center in Clarinda, Iowa. The health center recently received an $18.9 million USDA loan to help with construction costs.

USDA Rural Development's funding continues to have a dramatic impact on rural communities across Iowa. Since 2009, the agency has invested nearly $2 billion in essential public facilities, small and emerging businesses, water and sewer systems, and housing opportunities to help Iowa families and communities build a better future.

"Under President Obama's leadership, USDA has carried out these investments, helping our rural communities and sectors which impact the rural economy," O'Brien added. "In turn, this has supported the rural way of life that stands as the backbone of our American values. It has empowered rural America to continue leading the way, strengthening America's economy, and strengthening small towns and rural communities."

President Obama's plan for rural America has brought about historic investment and resulted in stronger rural communities. Under the President's leadership, these investments in housing, community facilities, businesses and infrastructure have empowered rural America to continue leading the way - strengthening America's economy and strengthening small towns and rural communities. USDA's investments in rural communities support the rural way of life that stands as the backbone of our American values. President Obama and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack are committed to a smarter use of Federal resources to foster sustainable economic prosperity and ensure the government is a strong partner for businesses, entrepreneurs and working families in rural communities.

USDA, through its Rural Development mission area, has an active portfolio of more than $170 billion in loans and loan guarantees. These programs are designed to improve the economic stability of rural communities, businesses, residents, farmers and ranchers and improve the quality of life in rural America.

#

USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. To file a complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Ave., SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (866) 632-9992 (Toll-free Customer Service), (800) 877-8339 (Local or Federal relay), (866) 377-8642 (Relay voice users).


#
31 Jul 2012

Davenport Parks and Recreation Newsletter August 2012

By Kenneth Asta
New Fall / Winter Catalog

 

Our new Fall / Winter catalog will be available on Friday, August 10.  
Pick up a copy at the River's Edge, 700 W River Drive in downtown Davenport.
Additional catalogs will be distributed at other parks locations and at Davenport schools sometime in August.

Fall Winter 2012 Catalog Cover
The catalog will also be available online on August 9.
Fall session starts on September 10.
________________________
City of Davenport Night at
Modern Woodmen Park
Friday, August 24

Join your fellow citizens for a free night at the ballpark!

Free tickets are for bleacher/berm seats.  Box seat upgrades available at the box office for as little as $3 per ticket. Voucher may be presented at the main entry gate for admission.  Come to River's Edge to pick up your voucher today!

 

 
Featured Event
Back to School the fun way!back to school 2012 fiesta

Join us for a FREE Family Fiesta-celebrating a fantastic summer and starting off the new school year right!  Come join the fun by bringing your whole family to the 5th Annual Back 2 School Bash at the beautiful Prairie Heights Park!  This fun family event has games, sports, crafts, activities, bingo, dunk tank, pinatas and more with prizes of back to school supplies!

Friday, August 10th , 3-7pm
Prairie Heights Park, 5600 Eastern Avenue

 
At the River's Edge
Summer Olympics showing August 1 - 12
on the River's Edge Turf

Join us at the Rivers Edge for FREE viewings of the 2012 Summer Olympics. You will have the pleasure of watching the events in our Indoor Turf Arena on the GIANT 60 foot screen!!! Bring a blanket, chairs or whatever makes you comfortable and we will supply the rest!

Showings will be played on open days/nights on the turf. The River's Edge is open from 8am - 8 pm, 7 days a week.  The Olympics will be shown whenever the turf is not in use by other events.  Check the turf schedule on our website.
At Junior Theater
CURTAINS UP CELEBRATION jr theater clown

We did it! We raised over $10,000 to buy our new curtains! Now all we need is our students and friends to join us for a celebration! We will unveil our 61st season, have a prize drawing for theatre & dance classes, have ice cream and more.  It is going to be a blast!

 

@ 7:00pm

Davenport Junior Theatre

2822 Eastern Avenue

www.DavenportJuniorTheatre.org

 
Family Friday Nights
Fun for the whole family!

Family Friday Nights continue throughout the year!  Join us each Friday for our great Family Friday Night series.  Each Friday you will receive two slices of pizza, lemonade and whatever great activity is planned!

Click here to register in advance for $2.50/person.
Pay at the event for $4/person. 
Maximum of $10 per family.  Kids under 3 are FREE!

1st Friday of each month are Nature Friday Nights

2nd Friday of each month are Family Movie Nights at Davenport Junior Theatre

3rd Friday of each month you can enjoy golf and a movie at Red Hawk

4th Friday of each month you can enjoy gym games, board games, computer time and fun at the Roosevelt Community Center.

 
At the Pool
Doggie Dip

Join us for our 9th Annual Doggie Dip

Friday, August 10th 6-7:30pm
Fejervary Family Aquatic Center.

Dogs of all ages, shapes, and sizes are invited to enjoy a refreshing swim in the pool after it has closed for the season.  Owners must show proof of current shots and keep dogs leashed if they are not in the water. 
Cost $3/dog, People FREE!

 

Pool closing dates for the season:

Annie Wittenmyer - Sunday, August 12

Fejervary - Friday, August 10

Dohse - Sunday, August 5

 
Nature Galore!
We offer an amazing array of nature programs!  
Just look below:

Full Moon Nature Hike

Bring the whole family to explore Sunderbruch Park's trails during a full moon. Search for owls and other nocturnal animals. While we wait for darkness to set in we will enjoy a campfire with smores and sharing stories around the fire.

Thursday, August 2, 8pm - 10pm, $1, Sunderbruch Park

Click here to register online for $1/person or pay the day of the program for $2/ person.  

 

Take a shot at Bow Fishing

This free class at Nahant Marsh Education Center will involve one hour of class room instruction on the techniques of bow fishing, places, and best time of the year to fish. It will also include information on the equipment such as were to obtain it, as well as how it works. After the class room instruction there will be a demonstration in the marsh using under water targets at different depths. Followed by a question answer session at the end of the class.

Click here for more information and to register

Thursday, August 2, 6pm - 7:30pm, Nahant Marsh

 

Fishscale Girl: The Amazon vs. Great Mississippi fishscale girl 3

Join Fishscale Girl and explore the difference between the Amazon River and the Great Mississippi River. Fishscale Girl tells of her origin and how she came to be. The program will have interactive activities about both rivers and how we can protect both. Come to the Vander Veer conservatory on August 4th at 10am. Come join the fun for a $2 fee. Click here to register!

 

Archery Camp

Experience the challenging sport of archery. This camp is designed to teach safety techniques and basic fundamentals of archery. Learn the history of archery and how this sport is used today.  Hands-on activities will allow children to develop their skills. Equipment is provided.

Click here to register.

August 6-10; 9am-11am, $60, Duck Creek Park Lower end of park.

 

Kindernature - 1 Fish, 2 Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish

Learn about the fish of our area with hands-on activities and actually go fishing in the Vander Veer lagoon. This fun and creative program will teach about how fish swim and live underwater.

Kindernature is a nature program for young children ages 3 to 5 which enriches awareness and appreciation for nature. Each class focuses on an environmental theme includes a story, hands-on activity, craft and themed snack. Class fee is $6 per child. An adult must accompany the child. Registration is required and class size is limited to 20 children. Each class begins at 10am in the Vander Veer Conservatory.

Click here to register

August 7, 10am - 11am, $6, Vander Veer Botanical Park

 

Kindernature - Buzzing with Excitement Bee

Bee here to find out the mystery of why bees are disappearing, and why they are so important to our lives. Answer questions like how do they make honey and why do they sting?

Kindernature is a nature program for young children ages 3 to 5 which enriches awareness and appreciation for nature. Each class focuses on an environmental theme includes a story, hands-on activity, craft and themed snack. Class fee is $6 per child. An adult must accompany the child. Registration is required and class size is limited to 20 children. Each class begins at 10am in the Vander Veer Conservatory.

Click here to register

August 14, 10am, Vander Veer Botanical Center

Toddling on the Wild Side!

Come experience Fejervary Learning Center's toddling nature program and bring your 18-24 month old child to experience hands-on nature explorations. Programs start at 10am and will last for 45 minutes. For only $2, children will discover programs like natures many beautiful animals, reptiles, insects, plants and how weather impacts our amazing creatures. The program will be offered at Fejervary 1780 West 12th Street, Davenport, IA 52804 and will meet by Mother Goose on Thursdays starting June 7th through August 9th.


Wild walks in the park

Take some time out this summer to enjoy a guided walk through Duck Creek Park at 10 am and 1pm at Vander Veer. Each week will explore nature from different angles. These walks are for children ages 5-12.  Wild Walks are free to the public and each will have a fun and educational component. Walks will be every Monday starting June 4th and ending August 6th.




Bettendorf Parks and Recreation   

Davenport Parks and Recreation is now partnering with Bettendorf Bettendorf Parks and Recreation
Parks and Recreation to offer you even more!

 

The Bettendorf Life Fitness Center welcomes all QCA residents!  If you're looking for a new fitness/recreation facility, then check out the Life Fitness Center!  We're only minutes away from east Davenport.

Amenities include : indoor lap pool, indoor tennis courts, 1/8 mile track, free weights, Cybex strength machines, cardio room, 3 basketball courts, saunas, fitness classes, personal training, FiT Zone featuring TRX, and massage therapy.

 

2222 Middle Road, Bettendorf

563-344-4119

www.lifefitnesscenter.org

 

 

Bettendorf Parks & Recreation's Life Fitness Center has an intense functional fitness workout for you weekend warriors!  Break from the traditional cardio/weight machine monotony and see yourself training like the athlete you are!  TRX Resolution Circuit class uses specialty equipment like TRX, kettlebells, BOSU balls, battling ropes, agility ladders & hurdles, and medicine balls to give you a killer workout that you actually enjoy.

Classes are held Tues. and Thurs. at 6:00am and 5:45pm, and Sat. 7:45am.  5-week sessions begin Aug. 14th and Sept. 18th.  Cost per session is $35 for one class/week, $55 for 2 classes/week, and $75 for 3 classes/week (discount for LFC members).

For info go to www.lifefitnesscenter.org and click on "classes"; call 563-344-4119 for registration.  Classes held indoors/outdoors at Life Fitness Center, 2222 Middle Road in Bettendorf.

 

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