The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has approved the City of Rock Island's plans for flood protection during the Armory Park construction project. This permits Williams Construction Management/Valley Construction, the city's construction manager, and its subcontractors to proceed with starting the permanent flood-protection system north of the existing Armory building and then demolishing the Armory. The first step in the process is to install steel sheet piles on the north side of the Armory, followed by demolition of the Armory building. No date has been set for the demolition. The project is expected to be completed in 2010. Iowa Public Radio station 90.9 FM is back to full power after experiencing a major transmission-line failure February 7. That station serves eastern-Iowa repeater stations 94.5 FM and 102.1 FM in the Quad Cities. 90.9 FM returned to low power on February 17, and repair and final testing were completed on Tuesday, March 17.
The Art Feed, an online art gallery for artists in Iowa and surrounding areas, has announced the launch of its Web site at TheArtFeed.com. The Art Feed was created to give Iowa artists more exposure by giving them a collective place to display their work and by also serving as a promotion and marketing tool for the artist. Art Feed artists have the opportunity to sell their work commission-free. For more information, contact Thais Carnall at (319)269-5225 or info@theartfeed.com.
As a part of the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act of 2009, Partners in Job Training & Placement will receive funds to administer a summer youth employment program. Jobs will begin in June and include maintenance, clerical, and grounds-keeping. For more information, contact David Flowers at (309)736-9621 extension 101.
The Capitol Theatre in downtown Davenport has been chosen as the venue for this year's Miss Iowa Pageant, to be held June 8 through 13. For Capitol Theatre information call (563)326-8820 or e-mail info@thecapdavenport.com.
High-school and community-college students who considering a career in engineering can attend "Exploring Engineering Careers" on Tuesday, April 7, at 5:30 p.m. in the St. Ambrose University Rogalski Center Ballroom, located at the corner of Ripley and Lombard streets in Davenport. Reservations must be made by Friday, April 3. For more information or to register, contact Miranda Nelp at (563)333-6152 or engineering@sau.edu,or visit SAU.edu/ie.
More than $1 million from the economic-recovery package has been released to Iowa from the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services' Senior Nutrition Assistance programs. The funds will provide meals to seniors in need of food, restore nutrition services that have been cut, and restore positions that may have been eliminated or reduced.
Applications are now being accepted for visual-arts grants from the Isabel Bloom Art Education Fund, established by Isabel Bloom, LLC, through the Community Foundation of the Great River Bend. The fund provides financial support to visual-arts programs within the primary and secondary schools of Scott and Rock Island counties. Applications can be found by visiting CFGRB.org and are due by April 15. For more information, call (563)326-2840.
Cars for Homes, operated by Habitat for Humanity International, is a program that raises funds for Habitat by selling donated cars, boats, motorcycles, RVs, and other vehicles at auctions or salvage yards. A vehicle's condition should not deter donors. Cars for Homes makes arrangements to pick up the vehicle for processing, including towing if necessary. Donations can be arranged at by contacting Cars for Homes at (877)277-4344 or by visiting CarsForHomes.org.
The Iowa Property Owners Alliance is a new organization dedicated to protecting the property rights of private-property owners in Iowa. Visit IowaPropertyOwnersAlliance.com for information, links, and resources.
