11
May
2004
• Studies show that in crashes involving a motorcycle and another vehicle, the motorcyclist's right of way was violated two-thirds of the time. To make motorists more alert to others on roadways, Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack has declared May "Motorcycle Awareness Month." A Brotherhood Aimed Toward Education (ABATE) of Iowa, the state's largest motorcycle-rights organization, believes that crash-prevention is the key to improving safety on Iowa's roads. ABATE offers "Share the Road" presentations to improve motorists' understanding of how to interact with motorcyclists. In conjunction with the Iowa Department of Transportation, ABATE teaches education courses for all levels of motorcycle riders on safe riding skills. Anyone interested in learning more about ABATE should look on its Web site at (http://www.abateiowa.org).
• River Action awarded the 2004 Eddy Awards for environmental excellence at its Fish & Fire event on April 24. Buffalo, Iowa, teacher Stacey Houk won the award in the Art category for the Mississippi Mosaic Mural Project. The Quad City Rowing Association was honored in the Design arena for the Sylvan Boathouse. In the Education competition, Shaney Ford got the Eddy for her Academy of Environmental Education. River Action gave the Eddy for River Activity to the Bettendorf Park Board for its Eagles Landing & Boat Launch Area. In the area of Revitalization, three awards were given: to Abbey Station, Union Station, and the Freighthouse. And Bob Bryant won the award in the Stewardship category for his work with the Wapsi River Environmental Education Center and the Nahant Marsh.
• Iowa law-enforcement agencies will receive a $5.3-million Edward Byrne Memorial Grant to fight against drugs and violence. The program supports Iowa's regional drug task-force efforts to rid communities of methamphetamine. Byrne grants go directly to state and local law enforcement to pay for regional drug task forces, technology, forensics, prevention, and other anti-drug efforts in local communities.
• The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is warning that the recently introduced "Anti-Terrorism Intelligence Tools Improvement Act of 2003" (H.R. 3179) would enhance the government's power to obtain personal records without judicial review, limit judicial discretion over the use of secret evidence in criminal cases, eliminate important foreign-intelligence wiretapping safeguards, and allow the use of secret wiretaps in civil cases without notice or an opportunity to suppress illegally acquired evidence. The ACLU argues that if passed, the bill will have a serious and detrimental impact on the ability of the federal courts to oversee government powers that could substantially erode civil liberties. See for yourself at (http://www.aclu.org).
• On May 1, state agencies nationwide turned on monitors for ground-level ozone, also called smog. That means monitors at Scott County Park, Argo Corners in northeastern Scott County, and the Rock Island Arsenal have been activated. The typical ozone season runs May through September. As ozone season kicks off, consumers can check the status of air quality daily at a variety of Web sites. AIRNow, the Ozone Mapping Project (with real time data in 21 Eastern and Midwestern states), and an air-quality-index brochure can be found at (http://www.epa.gov/airnow). Also, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources Air Quality Bureau can be found at (http://www.iowacleanair.com). You can find out more about local ozone efforts by contacting the Bi-State Regional Commission at (309)793-6300 or by visiting its Web site at (http://www.bistateonline.org).
• The National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (http://www.norml.org) reports that neither the severity nor leniency of marijuana laws plays a significant role in influencing patterns or frequency of marijuana use among experienced users, according to a study published in the American Journal of Public Health. The study, which compared the behavior of cannabis users in San Francisco and Amsterdam, "found consistent similarities in patterns of career use across different policy contexts," including mean age of onset, frequency of use, quantity of use, intensity of intoxication, and duration of career use. Buying and selling cannabis are permitted in Amsterdam in licensed "coffee shops," and public use is permitted; in San Francisco, buying, selling, and public use of marijuana for recreational purposes remain criminal offenses. Abstracts of the study, entitled "The Limited Relevance of Drug Policy: Cannabis in Amsterdam & in San Francisco," are available online at (http://www.ajph.org/cgi/content/abstract/94/5/836).
• Theo's Java Hut, at 221 Brady Street in Davenport, has announced that it is now a smoke-free café. The new policy went into effect the last week of April. In celebration, Theo's will be offering a 10-percent discount for students through May 31.
• A new butterfly garden is being planted in the southwest area of the outdoor gardens at the Quad City Botanical Center. It will be filled with colorful blossoms to attract the "flying flowers" that fill the air. Butterflies are very symbolic of the life cycle, and because of this, the garden will also become a memorial garden. If you have a loved one you would like to pay tribute to, you can have his or her name listed on a colorful banner that will hang in the garden for $20. To have a name added, call (309)791-0991 extension 25 or stop by the Quad City Botanical Center at 2525 Fourth Avenue in Rock Island by May 18. For more information about the facility, visit (http://www.qcgardens.com).
• Following May 3 and 4 training for the anti-bullying program "Don't Laugh at Me," 125 teachers, counselors, and youth-worker volunteers are now equipped with strategies and materials - including workbooks, videos, and CDs - to bring this interactive program into classrooms and other programs in the Quad Cities and beyond. The program consists of various creative activities - such as music, drama, and creative writing - that help children develop empathy, integrity, initiative, teamwork, friendship, responsibility, common sense, and problem-solving.
• River Action awarded the 2004 Eddy Awards for environmental excellence at its Fish & Fire event on April 24. Buffalo, Iowa, teacher Stacey Houk won the award in the Art category for the Mississippi Mosaic Mural Project. The Quad City Rowing Association was honored in the Design arena for the Sylvan Boathouse. In the Education competition, Shaney Ford got the Eddy for her Academy of Environmental Education. River Action gave the Eddy for River Activity to the Bettendorf Park Board for its Eagles Landing & Boat Launch Area. In the area of Revitalization, three awards were given: to Abbey Station, Union Station, and the Freighthouse. And Bob Bryant won the award in the Stewardship category for his work with the Wapsi River Environmental Education Center and the Nahant Marsh.
• Iowa law-enforcement agencies will receive a $5.3-million Edward Byrne Memorial Grant to fight against drugs and violence. The program supports Iowa's regional drug task-force efforts to rid communities of methamphetamine. Byrne grants go directly to state and local law enforcement to pay for regional drug task forces, technology, forensics, prevention, and other anti-drug efforts in local communities.
• The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is warning that the recently introduced "Anti-Terrorism Intelligence Tools Improvement Act of 2003" (H.R. 3179) would enhance the government's power to obtain personal records without judicial review, limit judicial discretion over the use of secret evidence in criminal cases, eliminate important foreign-intelligence wiretapping safeguards, and allow the use of secret wiretaps in civil cases without notice or an opportunity to suppress illegally acquired evidence. The ACLU argues that if passed, the bill will have a serious and detrimental impact on the ability of the federal courts to oversee government powers that could substantially erode civil liberties. See for yourself at (http://www.aclu.org).
• On May 1, state agencies nationwide turned on monitors for ground-level ozone, also called smog. That means monitors at Scott County Park, Argo Corners in northeastern Scott County, and the Rock Island Arsenal have been activated. The typical ozone season runs May through September. As ozone season kicks off, consumers can check the status of air quality daily at a variety of Web sites. AIRNow, the Ozone Mapping Project (with real time data in 21 Eastern and Midwestern states), and an air-quality-index brochure can be found at (http://www.epa.gov/airnow). Also, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources Air Quality Bureau can be found at (http://www.iowacleanair.com). You can find out more about local ozone efforts by contacting the Bi-State Regional Commission at (309)793-6300 or by visiting its Web site at (http://www.bistateonline.org).
• The National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (http://www.norml.org) reports that neither the severity nor leniency of marijuana laws plays a significant role in influencing patterns or frequency of marijuana use among experienced users, according to a study published in the American Journal of Public Health. The study, which compared the behavior of cannabis users in San Francisco and Amsterdam, "found consistent similarities in patterns of career use across different policy contexts," including mean age of onset, frequency of use, quantity of use, intensity of intoxication, and duration of career use. Buying and selling cannabis are permitted in Amsterdam in licensed "coffee shops," and public use is permitted; in San Francisco, buying, selling, and public use of marijuana for recreational purposes remain criminal offenses. Abstracts of the study, entitled "The Limited Relevance of Drug Policy: Cannabis in Amsterdam & in San Francisco," are available online at (http://www.ajph.org/cgi/content/abstract/94/5/836).
• Theo's Java Hut, at 221 Brady Street in Davenport, has announced that it is now a smoke-free café. The new policy went into effect the last week of April. In celebration, Theo's will be offering a 10-percent discount for students through May 31.
• A new butterfly garden is being planted in the southwest area of the outdoor gardens at the Quad City Botanical Center. It will be filled with colorful blossoms to attract the "flying flowers" that fill the air. Butterflies are very symbolic of the life cycle, and because of this, the garden will also become a memorial garden. If you have a loved one you would like to pay tribute to, you can have his or her name listed on a colorful banner that will hang in the garden for $20. To have a name added, call (309)791-0991 extension 25 or stop by the Quad City Botanical Center at 2525 Fourth Avenue in Rock Island by May 18. For more information about the facility, visit (http://www.qcgardens.com).
• Following May 3 and 4 training for the anti-bullying program "Don't Laugh at Me," 125 teachers, counselors, and youth-worker volunteers are now equipped with strategies and materials - including workbooks, videos, and CDs - to bring this interactive program into classrooms and other programs in the Quad Cities and beyond. The program consists of various creative activities - such as music, drama, and creative writing - that help children develop empathy, integrity, initiative, teamwork, friendship, responsibility, common sense, and problem-solving.
