After hearing a presentation by Superintendent Jim Spelhaug at its monthly board meeting, the Bettendorf Chamber of Commerce voted to support the proposed renewal of the Pleasant Valley Community School District Physical Plant & Equipment Levy (PPEL). The vote on renewal takes place on February 13. The Bettendorf Chamber's support was based on trends showing substantial residential growth within the district over the long-term, resulting in increasing enrollment. Such trends increase the need for the PPEL fund. PPEL is used to maintain buildings and grounds; to complete remodeling projects; to purchase or lease technology, vehicles, and equipment; and to support major capital-improvement projects such as building additions or new facilities.
Chuck Bruhn was not involved in Exploring Scouting as a youth, but as an adult he is having an impact on the lives of youth as a sponsor and supporter. Bruhn, the CEO of Genesis Medical Center's Illini Campus, has been recognized for his contributions to Exploring by being named the winner of the Illowa Council Exploring Spurgeon Award. The Spurgeon Award recognizes individuals or organizations contributing significant leadership to the Exploring program. The award is presented nationally and regionally. For the past five years, Bruhn has served as sponsor of Exploring Post 802, which is the health-careers post based at Genesis Medical Center's Illini Campus.
The Young Professionals Network Non-Profit Fair, sponsored by the United Way of the Quad Cities Area, will be held on Thursday, February 8, from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Quad City Botanical Center. The Non-Profit Fair will be an opportunity for young professionals to network with not-for-profit organizations, learn about the missions and programs of local not-for-profits, and get involved in volunteer/leadership opportunities. All Quad Cities young professionals are encouraged to participate in this year's event. Call (309) 757-5416 or visit the Young Professionals Network calendar at (http://www.ypnqc.org) to make a reservation.
An afternoon of cultural diversity for people of all ages will include musical and dance performances, food from around the world, children's activities, crafts, and games. The St. Ambrose Cultural Diversity Festival is being held on Saturday, February 17, from noon to 6 p.m. in the Rogalski Center, located at the corner of Ripley and Lombard streets (one block west of Harrison Street on the St. Ambrose campus). Admission to the festival is $2 for adults; St. Ambrose students and children 12 and under will be admitted for free. BeeGlobal, St. Ambrose's international student club, is sponsoring the event.
The Illinois Arts Council is holding application workshops at various sites throughout Illinois to assist applicants in completing proposals for Fiscal Year 2008 Program Grants. Program Grants are available to arts organizations and not-for-profit organizations that present arts programming. Grants are awarded for general operating and project support, and are available in 11 different areas of arts programming. Copies of the Fiscal Year 2008 Program Grant Guidelines & Application Form will be available at workshops or may be downloaded from the Illinois Arts Council's Web site: (http://www.state.il.us/agency/iac). The application deadline for Fiscal Year 2008 is March 15. No workshops are presently scheduled for the Quad Cities area; the schedule is online at (http://www.state.il.us/agency/iac/mtgs.htm#OPGwkshps).
The Quad Cities chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union welcomes the public to a screening of Voting Rights, the second of the 10-part Freedom Files series. The event will be held at the Unitarian Church, 3707 Eastern Avenue in Davenport, at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, February 13. For more information, contact Ted Pfeiff at (563) 332-9203.
Prevent Blindness Iowa, founded in 1958, is an eye-health and -safety organization dedicated to fighting blindness and saving sight. Prevent Blindness Iowa and a nationwide network of Prevent Blindness America affiliates and divisions serve millions of people each year through public and professional education, advocacy, community- and patient-service programs, and research. These services are made possible through the generous support of the American public. For more information on eye health and safety, call Prevent Blindness Iowa at (515) 244-4341 or (800) 329-8782, or visit (http://www.preventblindness.org/iowa).
Trinity Regional Health System's pastoral-care department will offer a "Befriender" training course on Tuesday afternoons March 6 through May 8 from 1 to 4 p.m. The training course will include Befrienders for Terrace Park as well as West and 7th Street facilities. Classes will be held at First Lutheran Church, 1230 Fifth Avenue in Moline. Befrienders are volunteers who provide a listening ear to those patients who would like a pastoral-care visitor. The 30 hours of training are offered free of charge in exchange for one year of service to the hospital or Hospice. For more information call Chaplain Lynn Batcher at (309) 779-2991 or the pastoral-care office at (309) 779-2989.
Since its inception in April, the Chicago Lighthouse's assistive technology support line has helped visually impaired technology users in 43 states and four provinces of Canada successfully resolve many computer problems. Anyone with a question may call the help desk's toll-free number at (888) 825-0080 (voice/relay). Support is available via e-mail by sending a message to (ray.campbell@chicagolighthouse.org) or AOL Instant Messenger screen name "tclhelp." Founded in 1906, the Chicago Lighthouse is widely respected as a national leader in offering innovative programs to assist people who are blind or visually impaired.
The Sunset Park and Longview Park ice rinks in Rock Island are now open daily, from dawn to 10 p.m. The Longview rink is at the top of the park next to 18th Avenue and north of the tennis courts. The rink is lighted in the evenings. The Sunset Park rink is in the lagoon behind the east parking lot. Both sites are unsupervised and have warming shelters available. For more information, call (309) 732-7274.
