Filling the coffeemaker - watering your vegetable garden - spending a weekend boating on the Mississippi...what could these things possibly have in common?  Each is a simple task we take for granted, made possible in part by clean water with help from the Iowa Water Pollution Control Association.  Founded in 1915, the IWPCA is an organization of professionals committed to water quality and pollution control in Iowa waters.  In addition to legislative initiatives, the IWPCA gives various awards in recognition of outstanding educators and students, as well as employees in the field of water quality.

Rivermont Collegiate is ecstatic to announce tenth grade student Meghana Pagadala has been named the state winner of the 2010 Stockholm Junior Water Prize (SJWP) competition, the most prestigious youth award for a water-related science project.  Selected for her project Nanotube Filters: A Practical Solution or Unrealistic Wonder?, Meghana will represent Iowa at the national competition in St. Louis June 17th - 20th and compete for the opportunity to represent the United States at the international competition in Stockholm, Sweden in September.  The IWPCA is extremely proud to sponsor Meghana to this national competition!  The Rivermont community eagerly anticipates Meghana's future contributions to the improvement of water quality and protection - in Iowa and beyond!

For additional information on Rivermont Collegiate contact Cindy Murray at (563) 359-1366 ext. 302 or murray@rvmt.org

Floatzilla has a new challenger. On Saturday, June 5th, Pittsburgh hosted Paddle at the Point, an event organized around an attempt at the Guinness World Record for the "largest raft of canoes and kayaks." The event was reported as a success with an unofficial count of 1,800 canoes and kayaks, thus significantly raising the bar over the previous record of 1,104 achieved by One Square Mile of Hope in Inlet, New York. This new record, however, falls short of Floatzilla's ambitious attempt to rally 2,010 canoes and kayaks on August 21st, 2010. Floatzilla offers the Quad Cities a unique opportunity to trump Pittsburgh's impressive accomplishment less than three months after Paddle at the Point and to demonstrate the resources and vitality of a thriving Midwestern community.

The Quad Cities is a premier place to live, work, and play, and is home to a wealth of paddling opportunities on the Mississippi River and its many smaller tributaries that rival some of the best anywhere. Floatzilla isn't just a record attempt put a celebration of our community and its waterways and River Action welcomes paddlesports enthusiasts near and far to join us on August 21st as ambassadors of the sport and to share the experience of this epic event. Floatzilla is an unparalleled opportunity to encourage family, friends, co-workers, and any other interested party to give paddlesports a try and take to the water with thousands of other participants.

Grab your paddle and register today at www.floatzilla.org. The registration fee is $10/paddler, which includes one Floatzilla t-shirt, commemorative boat sticker, registration wrist band, one ticket to "River Roots Live", free parking, and free shuttle to off-site parking for "floats." Premium registration is available for $20 and includes the basic registration package plus coupons for local hotels, restaurants, and retailers.

Floatzilla is coordinated by River Action, Inc. For additional information please call 563-322-2969 or email riveraction@riveraction.org.

As part of Pepsi's "Refresh the World" campaign, a $10,000 check will be presented to Churches United of the Quad City Area. This PRESS CONFERENCE/ presentation will be held on Friday, June 11th at 10 am in the A. D. Huesing Corporate Offices, 527 - 37th Avenue, Rock Island IL.

Pepsi's "Refresh the World" campaign allowed distributers throughout the country to nominate a local organization to support, in their efforts of making a positive change in their own communities.  When A.D. Huesing saw Food & Shelter was one of the categories, they immediately thought of Churches United of the Quad City Area (Churches United).  Over 150,000 meals were provided last year alone through Churches United's 26 food pantries and 3 hot meal sites.  A.D Huesing also saw the big difference Winnie's Place woman's shelter made in the area providing help for women with, or without, children who are homeless or domestic violence victims.  Because of Churches United's commitment, A.D. Huesing submitted the paperwork and the Pepsi Corporation agreed to match their $5,000 donation.

The $10,000 check will be presented to Churches United at the press conference on Friday.    A.D. Huesing's Chief Executive Officer, Denise Ormsby, said "Churches United is so broad based and does so much in the community, we thought it would be a good fit."

According to Office Manager Jo Cohrs "This couldn't come at a better time, the needs for our emergency funds, food and services have doubled in the last year.  We can't thank A.D. Huesing and Pepsi enough for this wonderful gift".

The check presentation will begin at 10 am with Bud Helpenstell, Chairman of the Board of A.D. Huesing and Mike Evers, COO of   A. D. Huesing. Representing Churches United will be Executive Director Ronald Quay as well as Rev. Brian Fischer, President of Churches United's Board of Directors.  Mrs. Cohrs is inviting the community to check out their new You Tube video on their website (www.cuqca.org) to see the tremendous need and extensive services that are provided by this nearly 50 year old organization known now as Churches United.

Keep young minds sharp over the summer with educational programs at Rivermont Collegiate! Rivermont is offering an assortment of Summer Adventures for children from preschool age and up.  Programs cover a wide variety of interests - from cooking to aviation - to French and band Camp. Children from any school may register. Each one week session 8:30-11:30 a.m. or 12-3pm is $110. Rivermont strives to prepare students who are grounded in the basics, yet able to think analytically and creatively, to confidently meet the challenges of the 21st century.  Check out full class descriptions and obtain a registration form at www.rvmt.org.

Preschool - Junior Kindergarten - Kindergarten

  • June 21-25 What's Cooking

  • June 28-July 2 We Dig Dinosaurs!

  • July 12-16 Animal ABCs

  • July 19-23 Take Me Out to the Ballgame

  • July 26-30 Planes, Rockets and Aviation

Ages 7-11

  • June 14-18 Just Dig It!

  • June 21-25 Bits, Bites and Hopefully NO Bugs!

  • June 28-July 2 Mosaic Art (8:30-11:30am)

  • June 28-July 2 Une Semaine à Paris! (12-3pm)

  • July 12-16 Whoooo is a Genius?

Specialty Classes

  • August 10-12 Mini Band Camp (open to band students of all ages!)

For enrollment information on Rivermont Collegiate contact Cindy Murray at 563-359-1366 ext. 302 or murray@rvmt.org.

For additional information on Summer Adventures at Rivermont Collegiate contact Tammi Burrell at 563-359-1366 ext. 337 or burrell@rvmt.org.

Rivermont Collegiate is the Quad Cities' only independent, non-sectarian, PS-12 college preparatory school, ranked #1 on Iowa's AP Index.

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Illinois Quad City Chamber of Commerce and the City of East Moline present the theme for the 52nd Annual AMVETS 4th of July Parade

Moline, Illinois? The Illinois Quad City Chamber of Commerce and the City of East Moline are proud to present the 52nd Annual AMVETS 4th of July Parade to take place on Sunday, July 4th at 1:00 pm in downtown East Moline.  This year's theme is "Hats Off to the Red, White & Blue."

The 52nd Annual AMVETS 4th of July Parade will carry on a tradition for the Quad Cities community of saluting all of the veterans that have served our country.  With the theme, "Hats Off to the Red, White & Blue," the parade will be a spectacular tribute and celebration to those who served.

The Illinois Quad City Chamber of Commerce is currently accepting entries for the parade.  To learn more or to enter your business or organization into this parade, contact Anne Spoden at (309) 757-5416 or email aspoden@quadcitychamber.com.

Over 15,000 people are expected to line 15th Avenue in East Moline to watch this salute to our country and our community.  The parade will begin at 3rd Street and 15th Avenue, go down 15th Avenue, and end at 13th Street.

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Quad Cities, USA -  The Discovery Channel will be premiering the program "River Warriors" this Thursday, June 10th at 8pm CST.  The program is about the work the Living Lands and Waters (LLW) Crew does on the Mississippi River and is hosted by Mike Rowe.  Please see this link for to the Discovery Channel for more information: http://dsc.discovery.com/tv-schedules/special.html?paid=1.14951.26200.0.0.

Help us celebrate this Premiere at The Capitol Theatre, 330 West 3rd Street, Davenport, IA on Thursday, June 10th.  This free event is co-hosted by The River Music Experience and The Capitol Theatre.  Doors will open at 7pm, Ellis Kell and Andrew Landers will perform a set prior to the show and then the show will begin at 8:00pm.  "Even if you haven't been to a cleanup, please feel free to come to this event and help us celebrate", says Chad Pregracke, Founder and President of LLW.

"The Discovery Channel is airing our program after a documentary on the oil spill in the Gulf," says Pregracke, "The Discovery Channel did this to give people hope and a way to help out.  I think we all feel so helpless when we see what's happening down there.  What we do up here eventually reaches the Gulf.  So, we hope our program inspires people to get involved.

Living Lands & Waters is a 501(c) (3) environmental organization established in 1998 and headquartered in East Moline, Illinois. Beyond Community River Cleanups such as the "Great Mississippi River Cleanup", LL&W conducts Big River Educational Workshops, the MillionTrees Project, the Riverbottom Forest Restoration and the Adopt-a-River Mile program on both the Mississippi River and the Illinois River.

Living Lands & Waters' 1 Hour Pilot Episode

Dear Friends & Supporters,

I have some great news...

For the past 2 ½ years, I have been working with the Discovery Channel on a pilot episode called River Warriors. The 1 hour show will air on Thursday, June 10, 2010 at 8:00 p.m. (ct) on the Discovery Channel. Check your local TV, Cable, Dish network listing for the correct air time for your time zone.

The show depicts life on the river aboard LL&W's cleanup barges, and the crew's hard work to help clean America's rivers. I think you will find the show memorable, funny, suspenseful and entertaining.

Please let your friends and colleagues know about the airing of this pilot in hopes that as many people as possible will learn about the importance of clean rivers. If you enjoy the show please let the Discovery Channel know. Positive feedback will help the pilot go to series.

Thank you for your past, present and future support which gives us the opportunity and means to help clean up America's rivers.

Best Regards,

Chad Pregracke

Founder & President of Living Lands & Waters

 

PREMIER SHOWING

Come join LL&W's team to view the premier showing of River Warriors!

Thursday, June 10th
Doors at 7:00 pm - Show Starts at 8:00 pm (ct)
The Capitol Theater,311 Ripley Street,Davenport, IA
Living Lands & Waters17624 Route 84 N
East Moline, IL  61244

www.livinglandsandwaters.org

Choosing a grad school? Don't miss this June 30 event!

DES MOINES, IA (06/07/2010)(readMedia)-- If you've wished you could step into a lab to see current students in action and actually witness students' skills before picking your graduate school, you can't miss Discover DMU Day.

On June 30, from 2 to 5 p.m., Des Moines University (DMU), a medical and health sciences university offering nine graduate degrees, is opening its doors for undergraduate students and advisors to explore, observe and investigate the school.

"Discover DMU Day was developed as a chance for college students from the midwest to see our school unfiltered. It's an opportunity for the students to choose what most interests them and prioritize where to spend their time while visiting campus," explained Margie Gehringer, director of DMU enrollment. "Advisors and parents are also welcome."

Visitors can check out aspects of the school that interest them, meet faculty and attend a health professions fair.

Some of the options for discovery include a chance to examine the lifelike human simulators and sit in on a suturing session or laparoscope demonstration. Also an option is the chance to experience the simulated clinical setting students train in before entering a real clinic. Demonstrations of osteopathic manipulative medicine will also be ongoing through the afternoon. Current DMU students will be on hand as guides around campus.

For more information call 515.271.1456 or visit www.dmu.edu/rsvp/discoverDMU to reserve a spot. Attendance is free.

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Des Moines University is the only private medical school in Iowa, offering graduate-level, professional degree programs in osteopathic medicine, podiatric medicine, physical therapy, physician assistant studies, biomedical sciences, anatomy, health care administration and public health. Founded in 1898, the institution offers superior academics in a collaborative environment. DMU students' pass rate on national examinations and board certifications is consistently higher than the national average and the rates at similar institutions.

Part of Comprehensive Plan to Aid Riders during Tough Economic Time


 

CHICAGO - June 5, 2010. Governor Pat Quinn today signed a bill into law to help protect mass transit service riders and transit jobs in the Chicago-area.

 

The new law enables the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA), which oversees the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), Metra and Pace, to better manage its cash flow and funding requirements despite revenue fluctuations or payments delays. This new law also continues Governor Quinn's efforts to stabilize and improve Chicago's mass transit system.

"Access to affordable and reliable public transportation is imperative for Chicago-area transit riders," said Governor Quinn. "This new law is part of our comprehensive plan to stabilize public transit by keeping fares flat, services running and employees on the job."

The new law amends the Regional Transportation Authority Act to allow the RTA to issue, sell, and deliver additional Working Cash Notes that do not exceed $300 million before July 1, 2012. This authorization is in addition to the $100 million authorization currently allowed.

 

Prior to this new law, delays in funding payments and fluctuations in the receipt of tax revenues were jeopardizing the stability of the RTA system's finances. As a result, RTA's ability to provide stable funding to the CTA, Metra and Pace to provide adequate transit service and pay transit workers was severely limited.

 

Giving the RTA the authority to issue $300 million in additional Working Cash Notes will help the RTA respond to short-term payment needs without increasing spending. The increased authority will allow CTA, Metra and Pace to continue paying their workers, buying fuel, and running buses and trains. The RTA will pay off the notes once taxes or other revenues are collected.

 

Last November, the Governor announced an agreement that prevented fare increases for the CTA and Pace paratransit services in 2010 and 2011. Together, these actions are keeping rider fares flat, ensuring services are running as scheduled and that transit employees are being paid.

 

The current Working Cash Note authority of $100 million was established 30 years ago when the system was significantly smaller.  In January 2008, the RTA's authority to issue Working Cash Notes was temporarily increased to $400 million but returned to $100 million when the law expired on July 1, 2009.

 

Senate Bill 941, sponsored by Sen. Antonio Muñoz (D-Chicago) and Rep. Elaine Nekritz (D-Des Plaines), goes into effect immediately. Together, the CTA, Metra and Pace employ over 15,000 people and operate services for 2 million daily riders.

 

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(Rock Island, Ill.)  The Arc of Rock Island County held its Annual Meeting and Volunteer Recognition Event on April 27, 2010.  The annual gathering recognized the volunteers for their support for The Arc.  In the past year volunteers provided more than 6,000 hours of service.  Associate Executive Director of Administrative Services/Chief Financial Officer Stacey Carey distributed awards for cumulative hours, including special recognition for Gay Nefzger (Rock Island , IL) who logged more than 1,100 hours of volunteer service.

Additionally, The Arc presented its Elected Official of the Year Award, Community Advocate of the Year Award, the inaugural Business Partner of the Year Award, and the Evelyn Colberg Award.  The recipients for 2010 were as follows:

  • Elected Official of the Year Award Presented to Illinois State Representative Pat Verschoore (Rock Island, IL).  Representative Verschoore has during his lengthy legislative service worked vigorously to protect funding and build awareness of the need for supports for individuals with developmental disabilities in our community.  Due to the ongoing session, Char Verschoore accepted this recognition on his behalf.
  • Community Advocate of the Year Presented to Trinity College of Nursing and Health Sciences (Rock Island, IL).  Last fall The Arc and Trinity initiated a partnership with win-win results.  As part of their curriculum, students in the Trinity nursing program are required to do 12 hours of field service at The Arc's Opportunity Center in Moline.  This partnership has an amazing impact on the individuals at the Opportunity Center as well as the students.  Students get hands on experience, offering sometimes their first personal or professional interaction with individuals with developmental disabilities.  Through their experiences in this partnership, Trinity's students learn the importance of responding with sensitivity, understanding, and patience, when treating individuals with developmental disabilities.
  • Business Partner of the Year Presented to Nestle Purina Pet Care (Davenport, IA).  This year The Arc initiated this new award, developed as a way of thanking business partnerships established through Work Services for companies which invest in The Arc's committed and dedicated workforce.  This year's recipient has provided meaningful work opportunities for most workers at Arc Industries.  The company, however, does not treat Arc workers as distant subcontractors.  Rather, when they visit Arc Industries, Purina staff goes out of the way to make our workers feel a valuable part of their "team."  Chad Rostenbach of the Davenport Facility of Nestle Purina Pet Care graciously accepted this recognition from Arc Industries.
  • Evelyn Colberg Award Presented to Kathy Conrad (Silvis, IL)  [Photo submitted] The Arc gives this award honoring a volunteer, an organization, or a business that has served people with developmental disabilities with a sustaining commitment, dedication, and humility.  The Evelyn Colberg Award was first presented in 1987, named for one of a group of Arc Charter Members who began the organization now known as The Arc of Rock Island County.  This year Kathy has provided countless hours of dedicated service to The Arc and the individuals we serve, supporting the Human Resources Department, the Training Department, the library in the Training Center, and the Development & Communications Department.

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