30
Oct
2001
• Revitalize & Develop East Moline (REDEEM) and the City of Moline formally cut the ribbon for the Beacon Harbor Parkway and broke ground for the condominiums soon to be under construction in The Quarter, East Moline's riverfront development. The Quarter is a mixed-use riverfront development project with an office complex, restaurant, and sports complex planned for future development. In addition to the developments noted, The Quarter will have an operating beacon in conjunction with a visitor's center, public docking facilities that will be a regular stop for the Channel Cat water taxi, and a public-use area near the existing bike path. Everything will be located in the area along the riverfront known as "Beacon Harbor." Site development and infrastructure began in mid-September.
• Of the 108,749 registered voters in Scott County, only 33,669 (32.8 percent) cast ballots in the referendum for the proposed River Renaissance project. Of the people bothering to vote, 26,156 voted for the proposal, and 9,497 voted against, so the measure passed by easily exceeding the required 60-percent threshold. It's interesting to note that 4,549 absentee ballots were cast in favor, and only 759 were against. The interesting race to watch will be the Davenport mayoral election to be held on November 6; I predict a pathetic turnout. Please prove me wrong by getting off your duff and casting your ballot.
• Legislation passed this past week gives expansive new government powers to secretly search homes, tap telephones and computers, and arrest and detain suspects. The legislation, which also criminalizes improper possession of biological agents such as anthrax, is expected to be signed into law by President Bush by the time you read this. Despite criticism that it erodes civil liberties, the measure was approved by the Senate by a 98-1 vote Thursday and the House by a 357-66 margin. The legislation also covers 10 broad areas to strengthen the government's legal arsenal in pursuing and punishing terrorists, and it authorizes at least $1 billion to upgrade technology and hire new border guards, customs agents, and other staff. It includes some limits on prosecutors' power, and a four-year "sunset" provision under which the law would expire unless Congress renews it. Members of Congress said that would give them the opportunity to rewrite the law if it is abused. It will be interesting to see how much of the bill makes it past any Supreme Court challenges.
• Readers of Traveler, National Geographic's magazine for the adventuresome traveler, might see a familiar name in the October issue. The publication features a Mississippi River trip, and Lagomarcino's in Moline is named the best ice cream parlor in the world.
• The 2001 Waste Tire Management County Grant program, an educational program by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, has helped recycle more than 100,000 tires that might have otherwise been left in rural ditches. The project took a two-pronged approach by first creating awareness on how to extend tire life through proper tire maintenance and good driving habits, and to also inform residents of the proper way to dispose of used tires. The total project cost was $267,000, which included $125,000 in grant funds.
• Midcoast Fine Arts has received a $5,000 grant from the UPS Foundation, the charitable arm of the United Parcel Service. The grant will be used toward installing a lift on the Art-O-Mobile vehicle to provide ADA accessibility and toward completing the purchase of projection equipment for the traveling youth art center. Midcoast Fine Arts is looking for monetary contributions for the Art-O-Mobile, which will travel to area schools and special events to promote the arts for area youth.
• JoAnna M. Lund is the recipient of the 10th Author Achievement Award that is given annually by the Friends of the Davenport Public Library. This award is given for an outstanding body of literary work, quality leadership in the writing community, and devoted and loyal service to all readers and writers. JoAnna M. Lund founded her own business, Healthy Exchanges, which publishes cookbooks, a monthly newsletter, motivational booklets, and inspirational audio tapes. Her first book, Healthy Exchanges Cookbook, has more than 500,000 copies in print.
• The Quad Cities Convention & Visitors Bureau is challenging all Quad Citians to identify and invite organizations that they are involved in to "Meet the Quad Cities." In turn, the Quad Cities CVB is offering a three-day Caribbean cruise for two for anyone who books and holds a meeting or event in the Quad Cities from November 1, 2001, to December 31, 2002. It must be a minimum of a two-day conference and at least 500 guest rooms should be booked. The prize will be awarded after the conference has taken place. For more information on how to bring your meeting or event to the Quad Cities, contact the Quad Cities Convention & Visitors Bureau at (309)788-7800, extension 212. You can also learn more by visiting the group's Web site at (http://www.visitquadcities.com).
• The Center for Alcohol and Drug Services (CADS) has recently received an award from Pat McManus of Rock in Prevention (RIP) honoring Dr. Joe Cowley, director of clinical operations at CADS, and his staff for their efforts in helping RIP reach more than half a million Iowa kids since 1990. RIP trains high-school mentors who teach younger elementary students "refusal skills" to help them stay clear of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs. The program also works on life skills, character education, and violence prevention. During the past decade, CADS has helped recruit and train high-school mentors from Scott County for the Rock in Prevention program by presenting trainings and workshops and providing follow-up services.
• Illinois student-aid awards have been suspended six months earlier than usual because of rising college expenses and a crumbling economy. Usually, the program can keep making new grants into next April, but tuition hikes and a rush of new students have drained the $386 million state allocation to Illinois' highly regarded Monetary Award Program. Requests for aid are up 6 percent over last year, with the largest percentage increase coming from community-college students.
• Of the 108,749 registered voters in Scott County, only 33,669 (32.8 percent) cast ballots in the referendum for the proposed River Renaissance project. Of the people bothering to vote, 26,156 voted for the proposal, and 9,497 voted against, so the measure passed by easily exceeding the required 60-percent threshold. It's interesting to note that 4,549 absentee ballots were cast in favor, and only 759 were against. The interesting race to watch will be the Davenport mayoral election to be held on November 6; I predict a pathetic turnout. Please prove me wrong by getting off your duff and casting your ballot.
• Legislation passed this past week gives expansive new government powers to secretly search homes, tap telephones and computers, and arrest and detain suspects. The legislation, which also criminalizes improper possession of biological agents such as anthrax, is expected to be signed into law by President Bush by the time you read this. Despite criticism that it erodes civil liberties, the measure was approved by the Senate by a 98-1 vote Thursday and the House by a 357-66 margin. The legislation also covers 10 broad areas to strengthen the government's legal arsenal in pursuing and punishing terrorists, and it authorizes at least $1 billion to upgrade technology and hire new border guards, customs agents, and other staff. It includes some limits on prosecutors' power, and a four-year "sunset" provision under which the law would expire unless Congress renews it. Members of Congress said that would give them the opportunity to rewrite the law if it is abused. It will be interesting to see how much of the bill makes it past any Supreme Court challenges.
• Readers of Traveler, National Geographic's magazine for the adventuresome traveler, might see a familiar name in the October issue. The publication features a Mississippi River trip, and Lagomarcino's in Moline is named the best ice cream parlor in the world.
• The 2001 Waste Tire Management County Grant program, an educational program by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, has helped recycle more than 100,000 tires that might have otherwise been left in rural ditches. The project took a two-pronged approach by first creating awareness on how to extend tire life through proper tire maintenance and good driving habits, and to also inform residents of the proper way to dispose of used tires. The total project cost was $267,000, which included $125,000 in grant funds.
• Midcoast Fine Arts has received a $5,000 grant from the UPS Foundation, the charitable arm of the United Parcel Service. The grant will be used toward installing a lift on the Art-O-Mobile vehicle to provide ADA accessibility and toward completing the purchase of projection equipment for the traveling youth art center. Midcoast Fine Arts is looking for monetary contributions for the Art-O-Mobile, which will travel to area schools and special events to promote the arts for area youth.
• JoAnna M. Lund is the recipient of the 10th Author Achievement Award that is given annually by the Friends of the Davenport Public Library. This award is given for an outstanding body of literary work, quality leadership in the writing community, and devoted and loyal service to all readers and writers. JoAnna M. Lund founded her own business, Healthy Exchanges, which publishes cookbooks, a monthly newsletter, motivational booklets, and inspirational audio tapes. Her first book, Healthy Exchanges Cookbook, has more than 500,000 copies in print.
• The Quad Cities Convention & Visitors Bureau is challenging all Quad Citians to identify and invite organizations that they are involved in to "Meet the Quad Cities." In turn, the Quad Cities CVB is offering a three-day Caribbean cruise for two for anyone who books and holds a meeting or event in the Quad Cities from November 1, 2001, to December 31, 2002. It must be a minimum of a two-day conference and at least 500 guest rooms should be booked. The prize will be awarded after the conference has taken place. For more information on how to bring your meeting or event to the Quad Cities, contact the Quad Cities Convention & Visitors Bureau at (309)788-7800, extension 212. You can also learn more by visiting the group's Web site at (http://www.visitquadcities.com).
• The Center for Alcohol and Drug Services (CADS) has recently received an award from Pat McManus of Rock in Prevention (RIP) honoring Dr. Joe Cowley, director of clinical operations at CADS, and his staff for their efforts in helping RIP reach more than half a million Iowa kids since 1990. RIP trains high-school mentors who teach younger elementary students "refusal skills" to help them stay clear of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs. The program also works on life skills, character education, and violence prevention. During the past decade, CADS has helped recruit and train high-school mentors from Scott County for the Rock in Prevention program by presenting trainings and workshops and providing follow-up services.
• Illinois student-aid awards have been suspended six months earlier than usual because of rising college expenses and a crumbling economy. Usually, the program can keep making new grants into next April, but tuition hikes and a rush of new students have drained the $386 million state allocation to Illinois' highly regarded Monetary Award Program. Requests for aid are up 6 percent over last year, with the largest percentage increase coming from community-college students.
