Capital Funds Will Help Improve Health Care Access in Underserved Communities, Create Jobs

CHICAGO - August 31, 2011. Governor Pat Quinn today announced $30.5 million from the capital program to build and renovate 14 community health centers throughout Illinois. The Illinois Jobs Now! funding will help the state to improve health outcomes for medically underserved Illinoisans, reduce health care spending and save taxpayers money. The projects are expected to create around 215 jobs.

"These capital funds are critical in helping us increase community-based health care," Governor Quinn said. "We are investing in the health and wellness of the people of Illinois, and these community health centers reflect the emphasis I have placed on helping people get the care they need as close to where they live and work as possible."

The Community Health Center Construction Act, sponsored by Sen. James F. Clayborne Jr. (D-Belleville) and Rep. Sara Feigenholtz (D-Chicago), was signed into law by Governor Quinn in 2009. The Act enables communities to renovate dilapidated buildings, convert vacant commercial space, construct new health center sites, and provide equipment for additional health services such as OB/GYN and dental. 

Funding for the projects are included in Governor Quinn's Illinois Jobs Now! capital construction program, and will be administered through the state's Capital Development Board. In addition to providing needed health care facilities, the projects are expected to create about 215 construction jobs.

The 14 community health centers receiving grants include :

• Erie Family Health Centers Inc.: $2.2 million to improve two existing primary care sites to serve Chicago's greater Humboldt Park and West Town communities.

• Lawndale Christian Health Center: $3 million to build a health and wellness center that will serve Lawndale and neighboring communities on Chicago's west side.

• Central Counties Health Centers: $3 million to build a 24,000-square-foot addition to its current facility that will serve Springfield and the surrounding area.

• Rural Health Inc., Anna: $1.74 million to renovate existing space and build new space to serve Union and Johnson County residents.

• Asian Human Services Family Health Center, Chicago: $2.18 million to build a new facility adjacent to its current West Ridge site.

• Christian Community Health Center: $3 million to relocate its Calumet City Clinic.

• Community Health Improvement Center, Champaign: $363,390 to remodel and expand existing space and purchase dental equipment.

• Heartland International Health Center, Chicago: $3 million to build a health center in Rogers Park and renovate the Uptown Community Health Center.

• Greater Elgin Family Care Center: $2.67 million to build a new Streamwood Health Center, expanding the existing Adult Clinic, and expanding the Sherman Hospital Medical Office.

• Aunt Martha's Service Center: $641,097 to renovate the Carpenters Health Center and the House Comprehensive Resource Center to serve the Carpentersville and Aurora areas.

• Mercy Family Health Center: $3 million to build a new medical facility at Oakwood Shores Residential Community on Chicago's near south side.

• PCC Community Wellness Center: $691,299 to relocate and renovate its current facility that will serve Chicago's western suburban communities.

• Shawnee Health Service and Development Corporation, Carbondale: $1.9 million to build a new dental facility and renovate its existing building into medical exam rooms.

• Alivio Medical Center, Berwyn: $3 million to build a new medical center with services for a wide variety of needs.

Community health centers are nonprofit entities created by Congress to meet the health care needs of underserved communities and high-risk patients. These centers fill a void by providing care for those who often are not served by other providers, including individuals who are low-income, the uninsured or homeless, or people with HIV/AIDS, substance abuse problems or special medical needs.

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RECREATION:

For all events and activities, go online at www.cityofdavenportiowa.com/parks to register or call 328-PARK (7275) for more information. Fall/Winter catalogs are now available. Please check our website for classes on performing arts, sports leagues, volleyball camps and clinics, Japanese, tumbling, martial arts, adaptive and inclusive programs and more!                         

Fall Class Sessions begin September 12^th. - REGISTER NOW

• Friday Nature Family Fun Nights begins with a Nature Walk on Friday, September 2nd from 6pm-9pm at Sunderbruch Park. The cost is $2.50 per person pre-registered, 4.00 at the door and includes two slices of pizza and lemonade.
• Family Movie Nights Friday, begins September 9^th with the showing of Shrek (PG) at Davenport Junior Theater. Doors open at 6pm with the movie to start at 6:15 pm. The cost is $2.50/person if you register in advance or $4.00 at the door. The cost includes 2 slices of pizza and lemonade for each family member. Popcorn will be sold at the theater for $1.00 per bag.
• Prairie Pals youth programs begins at Vander Veer Botanical Park, for all ages begins September 10^th from 10am-11:30am. The fee is $5.00. Learn about Iowa's past prairies and find out how prairies grow, who lives in a prairie and plant your own backyard prairie. Games, crafts, and tons of FUN!
• Adaptive Sports Expo - Saturday, September 10^th, 6pm-8pm at Bettendorf Community Center, FREE! The public is invited to explore the way that people with disabilities can be an active participant in sports.
• Mississippi GRIND Barge/Skate Park Expo: September 9^th - 11^th. Clinic Fri at 6:00pm at Skate Park, Qualifier Saturday, September 10^th from  5pm Centennial Skate Park, and Sunday, September 11^th from 12:00-3:00 see the special Skate Park Barge from LeClaire Park.
• Fall Class Sessions begin September 12^th. - REGISTER NOW - classes fill quickly. New classes offered are: Beginning Sign Language, Theater, Zumba, Dance, Quilting and many more!
• Kindernature begins Tuesday, September 13^th (runs 9/13-3/13, Tuesdays only) from 10am-11am at Vander Veer Conservatory for ages 3 to 5 years and the fee is $6. Registration is required.  Participants may register online or by phone at (563)328-7275. September's Theme: Migrating Monarachs.
• Country Hoedown - Friday, September 16^th from 6-8pm at Bettendorf-Veteran's Park. The cost is $4, payable at the door. Cost includes dinner. No rain date or location for this event.
• Family Friday Nights: Friday Night Jam kicks off Friday, September 16^th at Red Hawk Golf Course! The fun is for all ages and goes from 6pm-9pm (participants must arrive by 6:30 in order to order dinner). Fee is $2.50 per person for pre-registered person or $4 per person at the door. Fee includes 2 slices of pizza and lemonade for each person. Includes games, board games, karaoke and Wii games for every one!
• Roosevelt Community Center 11^th Anniversary: Come join us on Friday, September 16^th from 6pm-8pm, as we celebrate the 11^th Anniversary of the Roosevelt Community Center. Celebrate with an old fashioned family style and flair with activities and games for everyone!
• Collage Theater begins Thursday, September 17^th from 7pm-8pm at Annie Wittenmyer (runs 9/17-11/17) with a fee of $35. This is an introduction to theater specifically designed for teens and adults with disabilities. At the end, the class will perform for the public.
• Sunderbruch Park Nature Walk- Saturday, September 17^th from 9am-10:30am. - FREE!
• NFL Punt, Pass & Kick Competition! Saturday. September 17^th.  This exciting and FREE event allows the youth to compete for a chance to move on to a sectional competition and then on to compete at the home of an NFL team. Participants compete in Punt, Pass and Kick for distance and accuracy. Event will take place at Wharton Field House from 11am-2pm.
• Health Families Day! Saturday, September 17^th from 11am-2pm at Wharton Field House. PLAY with your family at this fun health fair for all ages! Games, crafts, booths with different health information for special diets, facts and programs available in the Quad Cities. The event is FREE! We will collect cans for the local food bank. Join us at Wharton Field House for the Quad Cities Wide Punt, Pass and Kick competition!
• QC Family Fun & Kite Festival begins Saturday, September 24^th from 10am- 4pm and runs through Sunday, September 25^th from 11am-4pm at Centennial Park from kite making, education and viewing of a kite competition. Fee: FREE!
• Birds of a Feather - Saturday, September 24^th from 8:30am-10am at Credit Island Park. Fee: $8 per family.
• Unity Fest! Sunday, September 25^th from 12pm-5pm at the Putnam Museum "hill". This event is FREE!  Help us celebrate the diversity of our community with food, performances, movies and interactive activities. Davenport Parks & Recreation Mobile Playground will be there doing games for children and families!
• Mobile Playground Schedule for September:    Saturday Sept 10^th at Vineyard Family Fun Festival 11:00 - Friday, September 16^th: Roosevelt Community Center 11^thAnniversary Celebration; Saturday, September 17^th: Healthy Families Day at Wharton Field House in Moline; Saturday, September 24^th: QC Kite Festival at Centennial Park; Sunday, September 25^th: Unity Fest at Putnam/IMAX.

RIVER'S EDGE- Located at 700 W. River Drive (Across from Modern Woodmen Park)

• Check on line ice schedule for Drop-in Hockey and Stick N' Puck times! www.cityofdavenportiowa.com/parks
  • Standing Weekly Public Skate Sessions Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 11:00am-1:00pm
  • Fee:  $5/skating            $3/skate rental
• Indoor Soccer leagues begin right after Labor day for all ages U-10 through adults. Sign up Today!
  • Girls High School - Sundays
  • Boys High School - Fridays
  • Men's -  Tuesdays and Wednesdays
  • Women's - Thursdays
  • Youth - Saturdays
• 3v3 High School Soccer Tournaments- Men's on September 3^rd, Women's on September 4^th.
• 7-Week Learn To Skate Lessons - Whether you want to be a better figure skater or hockey player, there is a curriculum for you!
  • Thursdays at 5:15pm or 6:00pm- Starts Sept 8^th
  • Saturdays at 8:00am or 8:45am - Starts Sept 10^th
• Quad City Hockey Association - Youth Registration Day - Sept. 10^th - starts at noon.  Adult Hockey Leagues begin Week Of September 12^th.  Call Ryan Devlin for details at 563-888-3108
• Quad City Mallards Hockey Clinics on Sept. 10^th, 11^th, 17^th, and 18^th. Spend 90 minutes on the ice with new Mallards Hockey Coach, John Bell.  Cost:  $20/person  Limited to the first 24 players
• Creative and Active Kids Klub begins Sept. 10^th following 8am Learn to Skate Lessons.  The Creative and Active Kids Klub meets Saturday mornings from 9am- Noon, immediately following the 8am  Learn To Skate Lessons. This program is designed for kids ages 6 - 12.   Kids will enjoy use of the climbing wall, create a unique art project, play interactive group games and participate in a food lesson such as making rice crispy treats; banana pudding, no bake brownies, homemade ice cream and more!  Each child will take home a treat to share.  *Fee:  $84
• NFL 360 Flag Football league begins September 10^th- for kids in 4^th, 5^th and 6^th grade.
• Coffee Club - Coffee and skating begins Sept. 12^th.  Geared towards the more novice skater ages 50+, this program has a strong social component and includes a 15 minute lesson prior to accessing the ice for public skate between 11am - 1pm.
• F Troop - Learn to Play Hockey for Adults begins Sept. 15^th.  If you've ever wanted to learn to play hockey, this is a safe, fun and social environment to do so.  Call Ryan Devlin for details at 563-888-3108
• Couples Dinner and Skate on September 30^th from 6:00pm-8:00pm.  MENU:  Pasta with marinara and/or Alfredo sauce, chicken slices, soft bread sticks, side salad with assorted dressings, soda, water and brownies.  Fee:  $17/person (includes skates and up to 1.5 - 2 hours of skating)  Reservations required 7 days in advance.
• The turf is open for rental anytime it is free from programs! The River's Edge offers batting cages, lacrosse equipment, volleyball systems, and more!

GOLF:

• All City Golf Courses - Annual greens aeration will be completed in September
• Emeis Golf Course will be hosting a golf tournament on September 21st, to benefit the First Tee of the Quad Cities.
• Duck Creek Golf Course will be constructing a new cart-path near the clubhouse on #1 and #9.
• Red Hawk Golf & Learning Center is planning to install additional trees and shrubs along Pine St.
• Visit www.golfdavenport.com for the 2011 Golf fees, latest updates and information

PARKS:

• New fountains/aerators have been installed in the pond at Vander Veer Park.
• Credit Island Disk Golf Course is officially open.  Visit Davenport Parks and Recreation's website for course information.

The Beatles are back in the QC as Classical Mystery Tour joins the Quad City Symphony Orchestra and Conductor Mark Russell Smith for the 29th annual Riverfront Pops in LeClaire Park.

The four musicians in Classical Mystery Tour look and sound just like the Beatles, but Classical Mystery Tour is more than just a rock concert. The full show presents some 30 Beatles tunes sung, played, and performed exactly as they were written. Hear "Penny Lane" with a live trumpet section; experience the beauty of "Yesterday" with an acoustic guitar and string quartet; enjoy the rock/classical blend on the hard edged "I Am the Walrus." From early Beatles music on through the solo years, Classical Mystery Tour is the best of the Beatles like you've never heard them: totally live.

As is traditional, the concert will end with the 1812 Overture, Stars and Stripes Forever, and fireworks. Riverfront Pops is sponsored by McLaughlin Motors, SSAB, Wells Fargo, and Zimmerman Honda.

Davenport, Iowa -- On September 6, Iowa State University Extension of Scott County, Lutheran Social Services of Iowa and Genesis Bright Beginnings will sponsor the parenting support and education program PACT (Parenting All Children Together) for an eight week series. The program is financially supported by Scott County Kids Early Childhood Iowa. The program is designed to educate and offer support to parents and caregivers of children age birth through five years old and reside in Scott County.

"Parenting is the most important job we will ever have. It is also the toughest! What we provide our children from birth through age five stays with them for the rest of their life. With this huge responsibility, we need to work together. This series will bring together parents and caregivers who want the very best for the children in their life," said Jennifer Best, Extension Educator and PACT instructor.

The upcoming PACT series will be the second time the program has been offered to the Scott County community. The last series ending in June was very successful. "It was very rewarding to watch the families open themselves up to the learning process," said Marisa Bloom, Families Program Assistant. "A lot of learning was happening and families were forming bonds and creating informal support systems with their peers. PACT is a needed resource for these very reasons."

For participating in the PACT program member will receive a free meal at every session, free childcare while adults are learning, a free gift at each session, bus tokens to get to the sessions if transportation is needed, $40 worth of items chosen by the participant if they attend at least 5 of the 8 sessions, fun and friendship with other families, and great information to help parents and caregivers help their children be all they can be.

For more information about PACT or to register, contact Marisa at the Iowa State University Extension office at 563-359-7577 or mbloom@iastate.edu.

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