The Figge Art Museum in downtown Davenport will store and display much of the permanent collection of the University of Iowa Museum of Art and will also host some of its traveling shows and University of Iowa Museum of Art-organized exhibitions. With the exception of a selection of nearly 250 works of art that returned to campus in October, the collection has been in storage in Chicago since it was moved during the June 2008 flood. The University of Iowa Museum of Art staff is currently working to finalize plans to install a special exhibition of masterworks, including the museum's famous Jackson Pollock Mural, for public viewing at the Figge in April.
Scott County state-legislative forums will be held on the following Saturdays: January 31, February 28, and March 28. The forums run from 10:30 a.m. to noon at the St. Ambrose University Rogalski Center, 518 West Locust Street in Davenport.
There are many children in Rock Island, Knox, and Mercer counties and the surrounding area living with life-threatening medical conditions. The Make-a-Wish Foundation of Illinois needs community help to reach them all and is seeking wish-granting volunteers in the western Illinois area. The next area volunteer training is planned for Monday, February 2, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. in Moline. Space is limited, and an online training session must be completed prior to this training. Contact Dan White at (800)978-9474 or white@wishes.org to learn more about how you can volunteer and attend. The registration deadline is January 27 for the February 2 training, but applications are accepted on an ongoing basis.
The Quad City Hearts for Horses organization has planned a Valentine's Day dance and auction to raise funds for two organizations that rescue and care for local neglected, abused, and starving horses and other farm animals, many of which would otherwise be bound for slaughter. In 2006, more than 100,000 horses were slaughtered in the United States. The purpose of the benefit dance and auction is to raise funds for the Hooved Animal Rescue & Protection Society (HARPS) and Blue Ridge Rescue. Based in Barrington, Illinois, HARPS is dedicated to the rescue and rehabilitation of neglected and abused hooved animals. Its Web site is HARPSonline.org. Blue Ridge Rescue in Blue Grass, Iowa, rescues horses bound for slaughter and re-trains them to give them a new chance at life and adoption. Its Web site is BlueRidgeRescue.org. For more information on the benefit event, visit QCHeartsForHorses.com.
Christian Care recently completed its second-annual Canned Food Drive, collecting more than 21,000 pounds of food for its Rock Island facilities. Hot meals are provided free of charge, three times a day and seven days a week, to residents of the Rescue Mission and the Domestic Violence Shelter, and to others in the community who are without resources to feed their family. The organization provided nearly 40,000 hot meals in 2008, almost 4,000 meals more than the previous year. The Canned Food Drive began on September 30, along with a Winter Coat Drive to collect warm coats, hats, and gloves for clients and the community. The winter-coat give-away will be held on Wednesday, January 28, from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Rescue Mission, 2209 Third Avenue in downtown Rock Island.
On Saturday, January 24, Habitat for Humanity Quad Cities dedicated its 57th house, at 434 Sixth Street in Moline. The house will become home to Jerry Johnson and Christina Danielson and their five children. Jerry and Christina became a partner family in 2007 and have together contributed more than 600 volunteer hours, called "sweat equity," toward their home. For more information, visit HabitatQC.org.
The Bob the Builder - Project: Build It traveling museum exhibit will be at the Family Museum in Bettendorf through May 10. The exhibit replicates elements from Bob the Builder's world by inviting exploration, inspiring teamwork, and bringing environmentally friendly building themes to life for children and families. The Family Museum is located at 2900 Learning Campus Drive.
Introduced on January 15 in the Iowa legislature, House File 21 would allow brewpubs in Iowa to serve beer up to 20 percent alcohol by weight on their premises. You can see the bill at TinyURL.com/cbrulj.
Writers and artists from kindergarten through third grade may attend the Reading Rainbow Writing Workshop on Saturday, February 7, at 10:30 a.m. in the Community Room of the Main Rock Island Library. The workshop will include tips for writing and illustrating stories from representatives of WQPT Quad Cities public television and the Figge Art Museum. It's also good preparation for the Reading Rainbow Young Writers & Illustrators Contest, whose deadline is April 3. The workshop is free, and parents are welcome to attend with their children. To sign up, call the Rock Island Library Children's Department at (309)732-7360.
