The Waste Commission of Scott County is sponsoring free "e-waste" disposal for all residents of Scott County through February 27 at the Electronic Demanufacturing Facility, 1048 East 59th Street in Davenport. The commission noted many residents will purchase new digital televisions over the holidays for the February switchover from analog to digital and will want to recycle an older set to make room for the new. The commission is providing free recycling for televisions and any electronic waste, or e-waste: anything with a circuit board or cathode ray tube. This includes items such as computers, monitors, VCRs, DVD players, stereos, cell phones, cameras, printers, and scanners. For more information about the Electronic Demanufacturing Facility and Waste Commission of Scott County, visit WasteCom.com or call (563) 381-1300.

 

Only 32 people from Rock Island County have participated in a study of multiple sclerosis in 13 counties. The rate of 21.7 per 100,000 is well under other study counties and considerably short of the 100 per 100,000 presumed national level. All residents of northwest Illinois with multiple sclerosis (MS) are being asked to participate in a state-funded study to determine the number of area persons with the disease. Previous research has indicated that some portions of northwest Illinois might have elevated rates of MS. For more information, visit Rockford.Medicine.UIC.edu or call (800) 854-4461.

 

Metropolitan Community Church of the Quad Cities is helping to volunteer and is asking others to volunteer with Harvest Ministries, which has opened its doors to the homeless for overnight shelter this winter. Volunteers are needed to serve from 9 p.m. to 7 a.m. at the Harvest Ministries facility at 824 West Third Street in Davenport. For more information, call Terri Glaize at (563) 570-4536.

 

The Midwest Writing Center is hosting the first Quad City Iron Pen Contest. At 5 p.m. on Friday, February 20, an e-mail from Midwest Writing Center will be sent to participants, giving a topic, an opening line, or a specific character. Writers will then have 24 hours to write poetry, fiction, or nonfiction (no more than five pages) on that topic and e-mail it to the Midwest Writing Center. Winners will be announced by e-mail on Wednesday, February 25, and will present their work at the Bucktown Center for the Arts on Friday, February 27, at 7 p.m. The registration fee is $10 per entry for adults and youth ages 12 to 16. For more information, visit MidwestWritingCenter.org or call (563) 324-1410.

 

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has appropriated fiscal 2009 funds totaling nearly $1.3 million to the Emergency Food & Shelter National Board Program through the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act. The program will divide the funds among Iowa counties to supplement and expand ongoing efforts to provide shelter, food, and supportive services for people who are hungry, homeless, and in economic crisis. The funds include $89,343 for Scott County.

 

Davenport Public Library's Theatre Club is looking for participants. Budding actors and actresses are welcome to participate in the world of readers' theatre, with numerous rehearsals and theatre games that will help kids gain experience in and knowledge of acting. Rehearsals are every Thursday, January 8 through March 5, at 4 p.m. at the downtown library (321 Main Street). Registration is not required. Call (563) 326-7832 or visit http://blogs.davenportlibrary.com/kids for more information.

 

The Quad Cities Greyhound Adoption kennel is home to as many as 50 dogs at a time and is operated entirely by volunteers. For more information, and to see the current greyhound residents, look at QCGreyhoundAdoption.com or visit the shelter (9525 New Liberty Road in Maysville, Iowa) Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

 

Portions of Scott and Muscatine counties have been declared in non-attainment for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) daily standards for fine-particle pollution, also known as fine particulate matter, or PM2.5 (microns in diameter). Townships in Rock Island are also included in EPA's designations for the Quad Cities area. For more information about fine-particle pollution, go to IowaDNR.gov/air/prof/progdev/pm25na.html.

 

The Davenport City Assessor is launching "Along the River," a quarterly publication to inform citizens about real-estate values and related topics in the city. "Along the River" will highlight assessment issues, provide perspective and commentary on property valuations, and introduce employees. You can find out more at CityOfDavenportIowa.com/department/index.asp?fDD=8-0.

 

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